This afternoon, America's Cup Defenders Oracle Team USA admitted that personnel in their team altered an AC45, taking it out of class, and raced it in this configuration, in four regattas, winning prizes and accolades using boats that were non-compliant. Writing on his blog on Kiwi Yachting Consultants?nid=113012, of which he is a substantial shareholder and director, skipper Dean Barker gives his views of the situation.

Well yet another bizarre twist today when Oracle withdrew from four AC45 events over the last 12 months because they had admitted illegally altering their boat. I do not know the exact details but supposedly, lead ballast was discovered in the king posts of both the Oracle boats and also the BAR boat which was also prepared by the Oracle Team.

It is incredibly disappointing to say the least to find out your competitors have been caught out in this way. It is an insult to the other competitors, particularly in an event that they have been running.

The AC45 is a strict one design class and this was one of the great appeals of this type of racing. To break the class rules is hard to understand.

All for now

Dean

by Dean Barker - 10:33 AM Fri 9 Aug 2013 GMT

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